Grade indicator



Feb. 22,- 1944. -w. `F."O coNNo'RQ v I 2,342,518

GRADE INDICATOR j f AFiled April 4, y194,1` l y2y sheig-sheet -1 Home); l 2

Feuzz, 1944. w, Ft @,CO'NNOR 2,342,518

GRADE INDICATOR Filed April 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Ilo may Patented Feb. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv 2,342,518 GRADE INDICATOR William F. OConnor, Fort Leavenworth, Kans.

Application April 4, 1941, Serial No. 386,902

(o1. .es- 215) 1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in the general art of geometric instruments and more particularly to an instrument for determining the exact degree of an inclination.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a grade indicator which will be substantialy exact in operation and which will not be susceptible to the development of ready defects.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the character stated which will not be aiected by weather conditions and which is of unique construction and positive action in operation.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specication.

In the drawings:

Figure l represents a vertical sectional'view through the casing of the indicator.

Figure 2 represents a transverse sectional view through the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device and applied to an inclined surface.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the supporting block.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pointer.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the casing.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the instrument consists of an elongated rbase 5 having the V-shaped groove 6 extending longi tudinally in the botom thereof,

Numeral 1 generally refers to a bell shaped casing overlapping the base 5 at its lower end and being secured to the base by suitable elements such as screws 8. This casing 1 is of narrow construction and includes the back Wall 9 and the front wall lil. I

An elongated block II provided with openings Iz therein is secured to the base 5 at the top side thereof by disposing suitable securing elements I3 through the said opening I2 and into the base 5.

One edge portion of the block II is provided with openings I4 for receiving securing elements whereby the upstanding post I5 is retained in a position perpendicular with respect to the base 5.

The upper end of this post I5 is provided with an outstanding pointer I6 which depends from the arm I'I which is secured to the post I5 as at I8. This pointer I6 depends in front of the peripheral portion ofthe indicating disk I9 which has the degree markings I9 thereon. The pointer I6 is always just in rear of the bezel glass 2D which is located in the front wall I5.

Numeral 2| represents a block secured to the post I5 by bolts 22, which bolts also secure the depending plates 23 to opposite sides of the block 2l and as is shown in Figure 4, between the lower end portions of these plates 23 the gear 25 is rotatably mounted and this gear carries the weight or pendulum 25. The gear 24 meshes with the pinion 26 carried by the shaft 2'I which is journalled through the plate 23 and also carries the indicating disk I9.

It can now be seen, that the base 5 can be placed against flat surfaces or curved surfaces such as pipes, etc., and as the weight 25 will always gravitate the disk I8 will be moved around as the gear 24 and pinion 2S are actuated so that the proper degree marking I9 will be visible through the bezel 20 in the proper relationship to the pointer I6.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: Y n

`A grade indicator comprising a base, a post arising from said base, a cross-bar afxed centrally to one side of the post, a pair of front and rear bearing platesdepending from said bar alongside said post, a rotary shaft extending through the front plate and having'a toothed pinion fast on the inner end thereof between said plates, a relatively larger counterweighted toothed pinion journaled in said plates below the first-mentioned pinion for rotation between said plates and meshing with the first-mentioned pinion, a graduated disk fast on the outer end lof said shaft in front of the front plate, and a pointer at the upper end of said post overlying the edge of the disk.

WILLIAM F. OCONNOR. 

